Drum handling lift truck



In a Sept. 22, 1959 HOPFELD 2,905,347

DRUM HANDLING LIFT TRUCK Filed Oct... 11, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 1' FIG. 1 40 W 20 :;:::::11 1.90 35 (k: 1 6Z- llliflgm 599 d alum; ll" x fi'l w 0 g 143 "Hi Q8 WW 5] \flllllllllllilllllll 25 I I ATTORNEYS Sept. 22, 1959 F. P. HOPFELD 2,905,347

, DRUM HANDLING LIFT TRUCK Filed Oct. 11, 1956 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2 Lg v 41 WI/ 180 a w 11 11 Ell W i' H E I T I I 235' \l l 23a P I w 1 m 5' i (0 -91 I ,3 1 1 1 .90 I i h i l 1 524 59 5.9/7 :2? I 52 H 201 II INVENTOR dWMW ATTORNEYS 42 F 2A FRED e HOPFELDVI Sept. 22, 1959 F. P. HOPFELD DRUM HANDLING LIFT TRUCK 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed 001.. 11, 1956 F l G.

0 w a mv i INVENTOR FRED P. HOPI'ELD I I fimii WWW ATTORNEYS Sept. 22, 1959 F. P. HOPFELD 2,905,347

I DRUM HANDLING LIFT TRUCK Filed Oct. 11, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet FIG.7 FIG.IO

F RED B HOPFELD DRUM HANDLING LIFT TRUCK Fred P. Hopfeld, Elmwood Park, 111., assignor to Grand Specialties Company, Chicago, 111., a COI'POI'HUOII of Illinois Application October 11, 1956, Serial No. 615,305

11 Claims. (Cl. 214-654) This invention relates to materials handling equipment in the form of lifts.

Among the more common types of materials handling equipment are so-called shop trucks adapted to transport relatively heavy objects from one location to another. Materials handling equipment of this kind sometimes embody a frame affording a vertical guide track, and a cross plate or head having lift means associated therewith is adapted to be guided on and by such track during raising and lowering movements imparted thereto. One of the objects of the present invention is to materially simplify the way in which a lift plate of this kind is to be guided. Specifically, an object of the present invention in this regard is to afford in materials handling lift equipment members providing guide channels, and stabilizers mounted in said guide channels so as to be easily removed therefrom when desired and adapted to detachably support a lift plate or so-called lift head. Other objects of the invention in this same regard are to equip the aforesaid stabilizers with anti-friction rollers so as to be removable with the stabilizer from the guide means, and to further equip the stabilizers with flanged rollers serving to dismountably associate a lift plate with the stabilizers.

The handling of heavy cylindrical objects such as barrels or the like is particularly difiicult especially when these are filled, and another of the important objects of the present invention is to enable barrels or the like having a rim or like projection thereon to be lifted from the rim. A further object of the invention is to enable such lifting to be accomplished by a pair of jaws adapted to clamp or close on a rim or like projection as an incident to engagement of one of the jaw members with a corresponding surface of the aforementioned projection on a barrel or the like.

It is advantageous that a lift truck be capable of interchangeability, that is, be capable of conversion so as to handle materials of different kinds. For instance, it may be desirable to convert a lift truck from a barrel handling embodiment such as described above to an embodiment including pallet engaging forks, and another object of the present invention is to enable such conversions to be readily and easily accomplished.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, show preferred embodiments of the present invention and the principles thereof and what I now consider to be the best mode in which I have contemplated applying these principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

States Patent Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the front of a lift truck embodying features of the present invention for handling barrels or like cylindrical objects;

i Fig. 2 is a perspective view, broken away in part, taken at the back of a lift truck embodying a lift plate of slightly diiferent construction than that shown in Fig. 1; I Fig. 2A is a detail view taken substantially on the line 2A-2A of Fig. 2;

1' Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view, broken away in part, Showing certain details in construction;

I Fig. 4 is a side elevational view, on-an enlarged scale and broken away in part, of jaw members constructed in accordance with the present invention;

. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

3 Fig. 6 is an exploded View showing certain constructional details of the pivoted one of the jaw members;

, Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a lift means in the form of pallet forks associated with a lift plate;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view, broken away in part, taken substantially on the line 88 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a front elevation of a stabilizer constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of one end of the stabilizer shown in Fig. 9, the opposite end of the stabilizer being of like construction; and

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 1111 of Fig. 2.

' The present invention is illustrated in Fig. 1 as embodied in a truck 20 of the kind adapted to be propelled manually for materials handling purposes, the truck 20 comprising a relatively stable base structure in the form of a pair of horizontal laterally spaced leg members 22 and 23. The leg members 22 and 23 at the forward ends thereof include wheels 24 and 25. The rear ends of the legs 22 and 23 are connected by a relatively large U- shaped cross brace 27, and this cross brace supports at either side casters 3% of conventional construction enabling direction to be imparted manually to the truck 20.

A cross plate 32, Fig. 1, is extended between the leg members 22 and 23 at the rear thereof, and extending upwardly therefrom in spaced parallel relation are a pair of guide members 35 and 36 affording a vertical frame as will be apparent from Fig. 1. As shown in Figs. 2A and 11, each such a guide member includes an outer side wall as 353 a pair of end walls as 35B and a pair of inwardly directed flanges 35F that are parallel to and spaced from the outer side wall 358. It will be observed that the flanges 35F terminate in spaced apart edges which define a vertical track as 351, Figs. 1, 2 and 11 for a purpose to be described below, and it will be further observed that the arrangement is such to afford a vertical channel as 350, Fig. 11, serving to guide a pair of stabilizers which will be described in more detail below. The upper ends of the guides 35 and 36 are connected by a cross brace, Figs. 1 and 2, aiforded by two channel bars 40 and 41 that have a plate 42, Fig. 2A welded to the upper faces thereof. The bars 4% and 41 are spaced to afford a slot 43, Fig. 2A, having ends aligned with the tracks 3ST mentioned above, and the arrangement is further such that the tracks 3ST extend upwardly to the upper exposed ends of the guides 35 and 36 as shown in Fig. 2A.

A relatively large housing 29H, Figs. 1 and 2, is afforded at the back of the truck 20, and this housing encloses, not shown, a tank for hydraulic fluid, a pump and energizing means for the pump adapted to be controlled by a control handle H, Figs. 2 and 3, so that by rotating the control handle H to its on position fluid under pressure is furnished through a hose 44, Fig. l, to fitting 44F associated with a pair of hydraulic cylinders 45 and 46. The hydraulic cylinders 45 and 46 are supported in an upright position on the upper face of a block 50 which is supported by the base plate 32. At their lower ends, the cylinders 45 and 46 are anchored by a draw bolt to a flange 57 that projects upwardly from the block 50, and the upper ends of these cylinders are held a strap 51, Fig. 3, against the front face of a back-up plate 52. that extends between the guide members 35 and 36. as shown in Fig. 2. Operatively related to thecylinders 45 and 46 are corresponding pistons 55 and 56, Figs. 2 and 3*, and these pistons are adapted when fluid under pressure is furnished to the hose 44 as described above to elevate the pistons 55 and 56. Secured to the rear walls of the guide members 35 and 36 above the back-up plate 52 as shown in Fig. 2 are a pair of rearwardly extending arms 58 and 59, and the rear ends of these arms are provided with corresponding handles SSH and 59H for manually irnparting direction and movement of the truck 29.

' A lift plate or head 60 is associated with the vertical frame afforded by the guides 35 and 36 and. is of sufficient width to span the distance between the guides 35 and 36. Thus, the outer marginal portions of the lift plate 60 engage corresponding forward faces of the guides 35 and 36 defined by the related end walls thereof, and the lift plate 60 is adapted to be raised and lowered by the pistons 55 and 56 as will be described below.

Under the present invention, the lift plate 60 is. related to stabilizers at 65,. Figs. 9, l and ll, that are slidably mounted in the channels at 35C of the opposed channel members 35 and 36, and to this and the lift plate 60 includes a pair of arms as 60A, Fig. 2, which are disposed at right angles to the plane of the lift plate 60 as shown particularly in Fig. 7. The arrangement is such that the arms 6tlA overlap the outer walls of the flanges as 35F of the vertical guides 35 and- 36. The upper edge of each arm 65A is provided with a U-shaped recess or opening 61, Fig. 7, and recesses 62 of similar shape are formed in. the rear edges of the arms 60A, the relation being such that the recesses 61 and 62 open in directions at right angles relative one to the other.

' The stabilizers 65 for the lift plate 60 are mounted slidably in the two spaced apart channels as 350 and are in the form of elongated blocks each comprising a pair of spaced apart, fiat side plates 70 and 71, Figs. 9, l0 and. 11 interconnected by relatively small brace blocks 75' that are welded to the opposed inner faces of the plates 70' and 71.

At their upper and lower ends, the stabilizers 65 are provided with relatively large rollers 78, and the arrangement is such that the axles for these rollers are displaced from the longitudinal center line of the stabilizer as shown in Fig. so that a portion of the periphery of each roller 78 extends beyond a longitudinal edge of the stabilizer.

Likewise, a relatively small roller 80 is provided at the upper and lower end of each stabilizer 65. Axles 81 for these rollers are mounted in blocks 82 disposed between the side plates 70' and 71 of the stabilizer, and the arrangement is such that the outer periphery of each roller 89 extends beyond the outer faces of the side plates 70 and 71 as shown particularly in Figs. 9 and II.

It will be observed in Fig. 11 that a stabilizer 65 having the rollers 78 and 80' mounted thereon is adapted to neatly fit in the channel at 35C of either guide member 35- or 36, and such mounting of the stabilizers in the guide channels is performed from the upper ends thereof which are exposed at the top of the guide frame of the truck as was mentioned above and as is shown in. Fig. 2A.

The related guide parts for the lift head 60 are accurately dimensioned so that the exposed portions of the rollers 78 are adapted to travel on the inner face of an end wall as 35E of each guide member 35 and 36 while the roller 80 has opposite peripheral portions thereof engaged with the outer side wall 358 of the guide member and the corresponding portion of the flange 35 which is-opposite thereto. In this way, each stabilizer as 65 is guided and supported within a guide member. of the ver--v 4 tical guide frame of the truck 20 so as to freely slide therein along an accurate path.

Projecting in relatively wide spaced relation from the plate 70 of each stabilizer 65 are a pair of bushings 85B, Fig. 9, in which are adapted to fit a pair of relatively short stub axles 85, and freely journaled thereon are a pair of upper and lower rollers orw-h'eels 86U and 86L having opposed, spaced apart flanges 8 7'.v 'Ehe rollers 86U and 86L are adapted to engage the openings 61 and 62 respeetively,Fig-. 2', provided on the arms 60% that project rearwardly' fromthe lift plate 60. Thus; in associating the lift plate 60 and the stabilizers 65, the stabilizers 65 are first mounted in the guide channel as 65C with the axles 85 disposed in their tracks 3ST. The stabilizers are then allowed to drop onto stop means disposed within the guide channels. The axles 85 are then mounted in the bushings 85B, and the rollers 86U and 86L are then mounted on the axles 85. The lift plate 60 is; then disposed so that the upward opening recesses fil therein are disposed below the upper rollers 86U. The lift plate 60 is then manipulated so that the openings. 61 thereof. engage the hub portions of the upper rollers 86U between the flanges 87, whereupon the lift plate 60 is then pivoted so that the lower outward opening recesses 62 therein. engage the hub portions of the lower rollers 86H.

Adjustably mounted in the opposite arms 69A of the lift plate 60 just below an opening as 62 is a positioning bolt 90', Fig. 2. Such bolt is normally turned to a fully opened setting in a corresponding nut 91. After the above assembly of the lift plate 60 on the stabilizers 65 has been completed, the bolt as 90 is then turned to a closed position whereat. an end portion opposite the head thereof is disposed adjacent the inner edge of a flange as 35F thereby preventing forward displacement of. the lift plate 60 relative to the rollers 86U and 86L. Todisassociate or dismount the lift plate 60 relative to the. stabilizers, the foregoing operation is reversed, and it will be recognized from this that an important feature of the present invention is the relative ease with which the lift plate 60 and its stabilizers may be associated and disassociated with respect to the guide frame of the truck.

Thus, it is advantageous inv materials handling equipment of the kind described herein to enable interchange between different kinds of handling devices to be utilized. Thus, the lift plate 66 in the present instance is adapted to support a pair of pallet engaging arms and 101,. Fig. 7, and these arms are formed from relatively heavy bar stock material so shaped as to provide horizontal extensions 1001-1 and 101E and vertical extensions 100V and 101V. The horizontal extensions are of course adapted to support and lift a pallet as is well known in the art. Welded to the upper ends of the extensions 100V and 101V are sleeves 165 having the bores thereof aligned horizontally. A tie rod 106 has the opposite ends thereof fitted into the bores of the sleeves 105,. and the medial portion of the tie rod 106 is disposed in the present instance in the upper of two openings 107 formed in a bracket plate 108 having the rear edge thereof welded to the forward face of the lift plate 60. It will be observed in Fig. 8 that the upper portions of the extensions 100V and 101V of the pallet engaging arms are spaced somewhat forwardly of the forward face of the lift plate 60. Adjacent the corners thereof, the arms 100 and 101 are provided with the spacer plates 1 19 that are Welded to the forward faces of the extensions 100V and 101V as shown in Fig. 8 and these spacer plates engage the forward face of the lift plate 60.

A lower cross brace 112 is welded at either end to the inner faces of the arms 60A of the lift plate 60, and an upper cross brace 113 is likewise welded to the lift plate 60. Ends of the cross brace 113 extend outwardly of the pallet engaging arms 100 and 101, and depending from these outer ends of the cross. brace 113 are a pair of plates 115 each having a pair of openings as I16 therein aligned with the openings in the bracket plate 108, and the relation is such that ends of the tie rod 106 extended beyond the sleeves 105 are adapted to engage in the upper ones of the openings 116. Thus, in mounting the arms 100 and 101 to the lift plate 60, the tie rod 106 may be disposed either in an upper or lower position to correspondingly locate the forwardly projecting portions of the pallet engaging arms 100 and 101 in an upper or lower plane. t will also be seen that the arms 100 and 101 can be shifted on the tie rod 106 to adjusted positions.

To enable lifting forces to be applied to the lift plate 60, anchor means are afforded on the rear space thereof and these anchor means are adapted to be engaged by complemental means provided on flexible lift means in the form of chains operated by the above described pistons 55 and 56. Thus, as shown in Fig. 8, an angle plate 120 extends rearwardly from a medial portion at the rear face of the lift plate 60, and this angle plate includes a downwardly extending flange 120F affording a hook. Opposite side edges of the angle plate 120 are welded to the inner faces of a pair of blocks as 122 which in turn have edges welded to the rear face of the plate 60, and the relation is such that the flange 120F extends beyond the rear edges of the blocks 122 so as to afford clearance space therein for a lift lug complemental to the clearance space as will be described below in connection with another embodiment of the invention.

A lift plate as 60 may be advantageously used in connection with the handling of barrels or like cylindrical objects with the truck 20, and a lift plate 66B adapted for such purposes is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. The lift plate 60B is supported by stabilizers 65 in the guide means 35 and 36 and thus includes arms as 60A, Fig. 2, adapted to cooperate with the rollers 86U and 86L in the same manner that Was described above. As shown in Fig. l, the lift plate 60B in this instance is provided at the upper edge with a forwardly extending flange 130, and spaced below the flange 130 is another forwardly extended flange 131 at the lower edge of the lift plate 6013. The flange 131 in the medial portion thereof is arcuately recessed at 131R, and this recess is configured complementary to the diameter of a barrel or cylinder B that is to be transported by the truck 20 having a lift plate 60B thereon. Alternatively, the lower flange 131 may be substituted by a pair of discs as 135, Fig. 2, that are adjustably mounted at the opposite lower corners of the lift plate 60B so as to be adjustable between extended and distended positions as required by barrels as B of diiferent size or diameter, the flange 131 or the discs 135 in either instance serving merely as a backup for the barrel as B which is to be handled.

Extending upwardly from the flange 130 of the lift head 60B in this instance are a pair of plates 141 and 142, Figs. 1 and 4, and these plates extend downwardly to and are secured to the flange 131. The front edges of the plates 141 and 142 that lay between the flanges 139 and 131 are covered by a face plate 143, Fig. 1. The portions of the plates 141 and 142 upwardly of the flange 130 afford a standard for a pair of jaw members 145 and 146, Fig. 4, and the lower one of these jaw members is secured to the standard thus afforded by a bolt 147, this jaw including an upwardly extending lip portion 145L adapted to engage the lower surface of the rim R, Fig. 4, of the barrel B as will be described in more detail herein below.

The lower jaw member 145 in the present instance is stationary with respect to the lift head, and is braced by a block 147, Fig. 4 welded to the plates 141 and 142. The upper jaw member 146 is hingedly supported on a pin afforded by a shank 1498 of a bolt 149B, Fig. 6. To this end, the upper jaw 146 comprises a pair of spaced parallel plates 151 and 152, Fig. 6, welded to aligned ends of the plates 151 and 152 is a lug 153 constituting a lip adapted to engage the surface of the rim R of the barrel B opposite that engaged by the lip L as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 4. Rearwardly of the lip 153 is a block 156 welded to the inner faces of the plates 151 and 152, and this block, and the corresponding portions of the plates 151 and 152, is provided with an opening through which the bolt 149 is adapted to be passed, a nut 149N being aflforded to secure the belt 149 in position to afford a hinge or pivot point for the jaw 146 as mentioned above.

, As shown in Fig. 6, the block 146 includes a depending leg 159. Spaced rearwardly of the block 156 is another block 160 that is welded to the inner faces of the plates 151 and 152, and it will be observed that the block 160 includes a portion that extends downwardly beyond the lower edges of the plates 151 and 152 so as to be aligned with the depending portion 159 of the block 156. The depending portion 159 of the block 156 is provided with a bored opening, and this opening is adapted to receive one end of a mounting rod 163 as shown in Fig. 4, the opposite end of this rod being welded to the lower end of the block 166. A relatively strong coil spring 165, Fig. 4, is provided at the upper end with an eye 165E which is hooked on the rod 163. The spring 165 extends downwardly from the rod 163, and an eye 166E at the lower end thereof is hooked to the head of an eye bolt 168 which extends upwardly from the flange 131 in the portion thereof that, is between the plates 141 and 142. The tower end of the eye bolt 168 is threaded as shown in Fig. 4, and a nut 168 is associated therewith to anchor the bolt 168 to the flange 131. By turning the nut 168N, the tension on the spring 165 can be adjusted.

. The jaws 145 and 146 are illustrated in normal or open position in Figs. 1 and 2. In open position, the upper end of the spring 165 is effective to hold the jaw member 146 in the clockwise limit position shown, but when the lip 145L of the stationary jaw 145 encounters resistance in a way to be described below during elevation of the life head 60B the upper jaw 146 snaps to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 4 as an incident to such resistance encountered by the lower jaw member 145. At the same time, the spring 165 snaps forward over a dead center position on the rod 163 to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 4 to firmly hold the jaws 145 and 146 in closed position.

v Thus, in utilizing the truck 20 having a lift head 6GB for handling barrels or the like having a rim R or other similar projection thereon, the truck is manipulated so that the barrel or the like which is to be lifted is centered between the base leg structure 22 and 23 of the truck. At this time the lift head as 6013 is disposed in a downward position, so that the lower jaw member 145 is disposed against the side of the barrel at a point below the rim R thereof. To enable the desired clamping on the rim R between jaws 145 and 146 to be accomplished, the lift head is elevated by furnishing fluid under pressure to the cylinders 45 and 46 to elevate the pistons 55 and 56. In the present instance, upward movement of the pistons 55 and 56 is imparted to the rear end of the upper jaw 146 to lift the head 60, and the way in which this is accomplished will now be described.

As shown in Figs. 4 and 6, the rear ends of the plates 151 and 152 are provided with aligned openings 1'75, and the shank 1768 of a bolt 176B is adapted to be passed through these openings and through the opening 179 of a vertical transmitting bar 180, Fig. 6, having the upper end thereof interposed between the plates 151 and 152 at the rear end thereof. A nut 176N is mounted on the threaded end of the bolt shank 1765 to couple the rear end of the jaw 146 to the upper end of the force transmitting bar 180.

The transmitting bar 180 is slidably related to the rear face of the lift head 6013 as will be apparent from Figs. 3 and 5. Secured by a weld to the back of the transmitting bar 180 is an angle bracket 182, Figs. 3 and 5, serving as anchor, this bracket being similar to the angle bracket 120 described above. The angle bracket 182 includes a downwardly extending flange as shown in Fig. 5 which is spaced rearwardly of the bar 180, thereby affording a clearance space for a hook complemental to such clearance space. In the present instance such hook is afforded by a plate 185, Fig. 3, having lugs 186 and 187 welded to opposite sides thereof. The lugs 186 and 187 are bifurcated at the upper ends and are pro vided with pins on which the lower ends of a pair of transmitting chains 190 and 191, Figs. 2 and 3, are secured. It will be recognized that the plates 182 and 185 may be readily associated and disassociated.

The chains 196 and 191 are adapted to be controlled by the pistons 55 and 56, and to this end, as shown in Fig. 3, the pistons at the upper ends thereof are welded to a relatively heavy cross 'head 195. The cross head 195 is provided with vertical end plates 196 and 197, and spaced inwardly of the plates 196 and 197 are associated plates 198 and 199 connected by a cross plate 200 spaced above the cross head 195. An axle 205 is mounted in aligned openings in the plates thus afforded at the upper ends of the pistons 55 and 56, and on this axle are journaled a pair of idlers 205 and 206 between the associated plates.

The chains 191 and 192 are extended upwardly from the lugs 186 and 187, over the idlers 205 and 206 and then are passed downwardly where the lower ends thereof are secured to anchor pins afiorded by a pair of anchor lugs 208 and 209 that are suitably secured to the housing 20H at the back of the truck.

When fluid under pressure is furnished to the cylinders 45 and 46 to elevate the pistons 55 and 56, the cross head 195 at the top of the pistons is forced upwardly with the pistons to tension the chains 190 and 191. As a consequence of this, the transmitting bar 180 is lifted by the plate 185 engaged with the hook 182 at the back of the transmitting bar 180. Preferably, the transmitting bar 180 is guided at this time in an opening formed in a plate 210, Fig. 3, welded to the back of the lift head 60B.

As was mentioned above, the coil spring 65 is relatively strong in nature so that during initial elevation of the transmitting bar 180 at the rear end of the jaw 146 in open position to carry the lift head 60B upwardly therewith. During such upward movement of the head 60B, the lower jaw member eventually 145 encounters the lower side of the projection such as the rim R on the object to be lifted, whereupon further upward movement of the pistons 55 and 56 is effective through the trans mitting bar 180 to pivot the jaw 156 counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 4 about the shank 1498 of the bolt 1493 serving as a hinge or pivot pin. When this occurs, the spring 165 over rides the dead center point of the rod 163, and the spring 165 in the dotted line position shown in Fig. 4 is then effective to firmly hold the jaws 145 146 in closed position. Further actuation of the pistons 55 and 56 to carry the chain 190 and 191 upwardly causes the upper jaw to tightly clamp and grip the rim R against the lip 145L of the lower jaw 145 which is'rigid. Accordingly, the object as Bis lifted to the desired height above floor level, and the truck is maneuvered to transport the clamped object B.

It is advantageous to afiord a lock for holding the lift plate as 60B in elevated position, and such is shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. Thus, the transmitting bar 80 is provided at an outer side with a narrow latch plate 220 which has a straight lower edge 221. An arm 225 is p-ivotally mounted to the rear face of thelift head 60B so as to pivot toward and away from the latch plate 220, and the arrangement is such that the upper end 'of this arm is adapted to be disposed below the edge 221 of the latch plate 220. The upper end of the arm 225 is formed with an ear 226, and connected to this ear 226 is a horizontal rod 208. The rod 228 is provided with a fixed washer 230, and a relatively strong coil spring 235 is arranged on the rod 228 between the washer 230 and the inner wall of the frame member 36 so as to normally force the arm 225 toward the transmitting bar 80. The rod 228 is adapted to be controlled by a bell-crank lever 236 having an operating handle 237. Thus, by pressing the handle 237 inwardly in the direction of the frame member 36 as viewed in Fig. 2, the actuating rod 238 will be pulled to the right against spring 235 to release the arm 225 relative to the latch plate or lug 220, and when this has been accomplished the pistons 55 and 56 are adapted to be lowered to lower the lift head.

Hence, while I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that this is capable of variation and modification, and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth, but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a lift of the kind described, lift means guided for vertical raising and lowering movements, upper and lower jaw members movable with said lift means and adapted to clamp opposing upper and lower surfaces on an object to be lifted, the lower of said jaw members being stationary and adapted to travel upwardly with said lift means along a side of said object so as initially to engage such lower surface of the object, the upper of said jaw members being pivotally supported in a normally open position, power means for elevating said lift means, means to transmit the action of said power means to said upper jaw member to enable said upper jaw member to pivot and close on said upper surface of the object to be lifted automatically as an incident to said initial engagement of the lower jaw member so as to clamp down on said upper surface as aforesaid, and means to hold said jaw members closed on said opposing surfaces during continued elevation of said lift means to carry the thusclamped object upwardly.

2. In materials handling equipment of the kind described including a lift head provided with open ended recesses, means affording a pair of parallel spaced apart guide channels each open at one side, stabilizers slidably mounted in said guide channels, anti-friction means on said stabilizers and confined wholly within said guide channels and engaging the inner sides of the means affording said guide channels, and flanged rollers carried by said stabilizers and projecting beyond the open sides of said channels and dismountably associated with said open ended recesses in said lift head to dismountably connect said lift head to said stabilizer.

3. In materials handling equipment of the kind described, a lift head, arms on said lift head formed with open-end recesses at edges thereof, an elongated stabilizer adapted to be mounted in an open guide channel, rollers on said stabilizer having parallel axes, other rollers on said stabilizers having parallel axes disposed normal to the axes of the first-named rollers, and stub axles projecting outwardly from said stabilizer affording support for one side of a lift head adapted to be so supported by a pair of such stabilizers, and flanged rollers on said stub axles and fitted into said recesses in said lift head.

4. In materials handling equipment of the kind described, an elongated stabilizer adapted to be slidably mounted in a guide channel open at least at one side, rollers on said stabilizer having parallel axes, other guide rollers on said stabilizer having parallel a'x'es disposed normal to the axes of the first-named rollers, stub axles projecting outwardly from said stabilizer so as to project outwardly of the open side of said guide channel, and flanged rollers on said stub axles adapted'to engage openings in a lift head adapted to be so'supported at either side by a pa l of such stabilizers.

5. In materials handling equipment of the kind described, a frame affording vertical parallel spaced apart guides, stabilizers slidably mounted in said guides, a lift head supported by said stabilizers for vertical raising and lowering movements, upper and lower jaw members movable with said lift head and having clamping front ends adapted to clamp opposing upper and lower surfaces on an object to be lifted, the lower of said jaw members being fixed in position and adapted to travel upwardly with said lift head along a side of said object so as initially to engage such lower surface of the object, the upper of said jaw members being pivotally supported in a normally open position, means to transmit lifting movement to said lift head through said upper jaw, said transmitting means acting on said upper jaw member on the side of its pivot opposite said clamping end thereof, and means to hold said upper jaw member in open position as aforesaid until said lower jaw engages the surface allocated thereto on the object to be lifted whereupon the upper jaw member closes on said upper surface of the object to be lifted automatically as an incident to said initial engagement of the lower jaw member as aforesaid.

6. In materials handling equipment of the kind described, a frame affording vertical parallel spaced apart guide channels having open upper ends, stabilizers mounted in said guide channels from the open ends thereof and including anti-friction rollers thereon adapted to engage the walls of said channels, a lift head, flanged rollers supported by said stabilizers and associated with openings in said lift head and removably attaching the lift head to said stabilizers, and means to raise and lower said lift head.

7. In materials handling equipment of the kind described, a frame affording vertical parallel spaced apart guide channels having open ends, stabilizers mounted in said guide channels from the open ends thereof and including anti-friction rollers thereon adapted to engage the Walls of said channels, a lift head, flanged rollers supported by said stabilizers and associated with openings in said lift head to attach the left head to said stabilizers, a pair of jaw members movable with said lift head and adapted to clamp opposing upper and lower surfaces on an object to be lifted, the lower of said jaw members being stationary and adapted to travel upwardly with said lift head along a side of said object so as initially to engage such lower surface of the object, the upper of said jaw members being hingedly supported in a normally open position, means to impart lifting movement to said lift head through said upper jaw, and means to hold said upper jaw member in open position as aforesaid until said lower jaw engages the surface allocated thereto on the object to be lifted whereupon the upper jaw member closes on said upper surface of the object to be lifted automatically as an incident to said initial engagement of the lower jaw member as aforesaid.

8. In materials handling equipment of the kind described, a movable lift means, a pair of jaw members mounted on said lift means, one of said jaw members being fixed in position and the other of said jaw members being pivoted on said lift means, power means to impart motion to said lift means to engage the stationary one of said jaw members with a corresponding surface on an object to be lifted, and means to transmit the action of said power means directly to the pivoted jaw member to enable the pivoted one of said jaw members to close on a surface of the object to be lifted opposite the first named surface thereof automatically as an incident to engagement of the stationary jaw member as aforesaid.

9. In materials handling equipment of the kind described, a frame affording vertical parallel spaced apart guides, a lift head supported by said guides for vertical raising and lowering movements, upper and lower jaw members movable with said lift head and adapted at the forward ends thereof to clamp opposing upper and lower surfaces on an object to be lifted, the lower of said jaw members being fixed in position and adapted to travel upwardly with said lift head along a side of said object so as initially to engage such lower surface of the object, the upper of said jaw members being pivotally supported intermediate the ends thereof in a normally open position on said lift head, spring means acting between said upper jaw member and said lift head for holding said upper jaw member normally in open position as aforesaid, means to impart lifting force directly to the rear end of said upper jaw member to impart lifting movement to said lift head at the same time, whereby said spring is overbalanced and said jaw members clamp on opposed surfaces of an object to be lifted when the lower jaw member engages one such opposing surface during lifting movement as aforesaid.

10. In materials handling equipment of the kind described, a head, power means to impart motion to said head for lifting the head, spaced jaw members movable with said head and adapted to engage opposing surfaces on an object to be moved, one of said jaw members being fixed in position and adapted to travel with said head along a side of said object so as initially to engage one of the opposing surfaces of the object, the other of said jaw members being hingedly pivotally supported in a normally open position, means to transmit the action of said power means directly to said other jaw member to thereby lift the head directly by and through said other jaw member and to enable said other jaw member to close on the other of said opposing surfaces of the object automatically as an incident to said initial engagement of the first-named jaw member so as to firmly clamp said object for movement with said head, and spring means engaging said other jaw member for holding said other jaw member in normally open position and for assisting in holding said jaw members closed on said opposing surfaces during continued movement of said lift to carry the thus-clamped object with the head.

11. In materials handling equipment of the kind described, a head, spaced apart jaw members movable with said head and adapted at outer ends thereof to engage opposing surfaces on an object, one of said jaw members being fixed in position on said head and adapted to travel with said head along a side of said object so as initially to engage one of the opposing surfaces of the object, the other of said jaw members being pivotally supported in a normally open position, spring means acting between said other jaw member and said head to hold said other jaw member in open position as aforesaid, force means acting on the end of the other jaw member opposite the outer end thereof to impart motion to the head through the connection between the head and said other jaw member, whereby the force means overbalances said spring means and said jaws are closed operatively on said object when said one jaw member initially engages said object as aforesaid.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 989,550 Broderick Sept. 15, 1908 2,421,472 Way June 3, 1947 2,447,300 Williams Aug. 17, 1948 2,456,320 Repke Dec. 14, 1948 2,679,437 Pusztay May 25, 1954 2,698,107 Ericson Dec. 28, 1954 2,709,015 Sasgen et al. May 24, 1955 2,759,562 Ulinski Aug. 21, 1956 

